13 February 2024
Russian sanctions: supervening illegality and impact on contracts with Russian interestsRead moreMellissa LaiRobert WyldPatrick Cunanan
Mellissa co-leads the firm’s national security practice from Canberra, which is uniquely placed to assist industry to deliver on government priorities.
Mel has worked on projects in the defence, health and energy sectors, including infrastructure for those sectors, assisting clients to secure funding, establish business lines in Australia, make strategic and growth acquisitions and in project delivery.
Her focus is on acquisitions, projects and other transactions, particularly with a foreign investment or global trade flow and supply chain component (including export controls, sanctions, import restrictions, free trade agreement, procurement and lobbying rules).
Mel is a Chambers-ranked lawyer and listed as one of ‘40 under 40’ globally for foreign investment in Australia. She was also listed as ’30 under 30’ in Australia for her government-funded infrastructure experience.
Work highlights
Defence and major infrastructure investment
Kongsberg Defence Australia
Establishment of the first missile production and maintenance facility in Australia.
AUKUS participant
Advising in relation to AUKUS supply chain establishment matters.
Hanwha Australia
Establishment of a facility in Geelong and the supply of self-propelled howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles.
SRC Australia
Arrangements with Boeing for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
Supply chain infrastructure
Advising in relation to vaccine supply chains and infrastructure.
Supply chain infrastructure
Supply and infrastructure arrangements for low aromatic fuel as part of Australia’s petrol sniffing prevention program.
Export controls and sanctions
US and Australian primes
Export control requirements for critical Australian capabilities, supply chains and export markets, including interaction with different platforms.
US prime
Advising US prime on export control requirements for the F35 global spares pool supply chain.
European multinational
Advising a European multinational on Australian sanctions in the nuclear sector.
Various clients
Advising major financial institutions, defence suppliers, agricultural providers, transport providers, businesses in the energy sector and universities on export controls and sanctions, including the 2022 Russia sanctions.
Various clients
Advising various clients on regulatory engagement in relation to imported goods.
Private equity and venture capital
EQT
Advising EQT on its investments in Neara and Kasada.
Insight Partners
Advising Insight Partners on its investment in Roller Software.
EMEA venture investor
Advising EMEA venture investor in an Australian climate tech investment.
Liberty Hall Capital Partners
Advising Liberty Hall Capital Partners and Insight Partners in their acquisition of Comply365.
SPA
Advising Arlington Capital Partners’ portfolio company SPA in its acquisition of Proximity.
Veeam
Advising Insight Partners’ portfolio company Veeam in its acquisition of Cirrus.
Foreign investment
US and European private equity firms
Go-to adviser for financial sponsors across their portfolios on all foreign investment matters.
Various clients
Advising on complex and sensitive foreign investment matters, including engagement with other advisers on politically sensitive or national security impacts of the investment.
Various clients
Assisting hundreds of clients to obtain FIRB approval for Australian and international transactions, including in the financial services, agriculture, defence, energy & resources, funds management, private equity, property, renewables, technology, telecommunications, transport and other sectors.
Various clients
Advising on regulatory engagement with foreign investment approvals, including audits and historical transaction reviews.
Various clients
Advising on domestic law impacts of Australia’s free trade agreements.
UK Government
Advised on investment matters to support the UK Government’s negotiations with Australia for the UK-Australia free trade agreement.